Tuesday, 26 March Luke 10:1-24

Written by Dr Graham Leo. ©2019.

The military type of language that we used in yesterday’s reflection – invasion, bridgeheads, sleeper cells – is shown to be justified in today’s reading.

As an essential component of his march on Jerusalem, Jesus now sends out 72 disciples ahead of his advance. Yes, 72! Where did they come from? A few pages ago there were only 12, plus several women. As I wrote a few days ago, the notion of Jesus travelling with a small party of a dozen or so doesn't actually match the Gospel record when we start to read it carefully.

Not that all of these 72 had to have been travelling with him all the time, but they have certainly become accessible to him now, wherever they were. Clearly, there is a social movement afoot which could not have gone unnoticed by the authorities. This is a major insurrection in the making.

Although Jesus did not actually intend to take Jerusalem or Rome by force, the authorities could not be expected to know that. What would we think of a charismatic religious leader who sent out radicalised men in pairs to various towns and villages to prepare for a coming new regime that the leader was promising to inaugurate?

What is really interesting in this passage is the amount of joy that is packed into these few verses. Jesus is on a suicide mission, so to speak, and there is a campaign being planned out, but there is genuine joy throughout the process.

The missioners returned from their trip with joy (v17). They had a marvellous time, preaching, healing the sick, casting out demons.

Jesus received their reports with joy (v21). He is elated that the program of the Kingdom of Heaven is underway and being successful. But he cautions the disciples, nevertheless, that they should not be so pleased at their success. Rather, they should rejoice at the fact that they are themselves, redeemed. (v20)

Yes, it’s nice to be in a spirited worship setting, singing songs that lift your spirits and make you feel wonderful. But…

I’ve never wanted to waste much money going to pop concerts and watching superstar rock bands in concert. But I was invited to a U2 concert in a huge stadium once, and I went. I found it a fascinating experience.

The people I went with were all church people. One was a fairly well-known ‘worship leader’ in a church. During the concert, I saw all the people with whom I had come, standing, eyes raised to the open sky, hands raised, bodies swaying as Bono belted out some number or another. I looked around, and saw strangers hugging each other, others rocking with emotion, hands raised high to the smoky figures on the stage. I spent most of the night watching the audience, not the stage performers. I probably wasted my entry ticket! I knew I was observing a strange religious worship service, the like of which I had never seen before. I understood for the first time how the Pagans knew how to worship Dionysius or Bacchus or Osiris or Diana/Artemis.

Lots of modern Christian worship is indistinguishable from what I witnessed at that professional music concert. Just watch online any clips of the big church events with lots of young people. I understand Jesus’ concern for caution at seeing marvellous things happen. ‘Rather rejoice’, he says, ‘that your names are written in heaven’.

This is a timely reminder that the most important part of our worship and our living should indeed be that moment when we come to the table of the Lord’s Supper, acknowledging the historical event of his death for us.

Jesus was en route to Jerusalem to die, not to become a pop hero, a worship celebrity. The death was the most important thing. Without that, there could be no salvation. And he made it very clear, that unless we are prepared to carry our cross to our own death for his sake, even if that death is merely a spiritual one, we have no place in his kingdom.

The richness of this moment at the beginning of this journey to Jerusalem is solemnly pointed out by Jesus to his disciples in the last verses of our reading. You are experiencing, he said, what prophets and kings have dreamt of for thousands of years, but never lived to see. You are blessed, i.e. made happy, made to rejoice.

This is not just a great worship experience, coming on mission with me, says Jesus. It’s not an exercise in self-aggrandisement. It’s the fulfilment of the greatest promise in the history of the earth.

The cosmos is about to be redeemed – and you're a part of it. Live up to that calling. And after you are sure you're living up to it, live into it.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, help me, please, not to get distracted by the razzamatazz of what can sometimes go on in churches. Help me not to get drawn into hero worship or the excitement of showy performances and even spectacular spiritual deliverances.

Remind me always, please, help me to remember, that what matters most, is that you loved me, and died for me, to forgive my sins and the sins of the world. Help me to eat those words, each week: This is my body, broken for you. This is my blood, shed for you. Eat, drink, and be thankful. Amen.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world.

Have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world.

Have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world.

Grant us your peace.